I think I had said in anearlier post Carole that as far as cities to visit goes it is not too bad at all but if you put it into the context as one poster suggested of saving the Whitsundays for a second visit, then why not put Sydney, inland and south on the agenda for the second visit, concentrating on the north for this visit which to me would make more sense than coming a second time and then travelling all the way north again.

Great advice, Bushranger. Thanks again. I have not purchased domestic airfare yet (to CNS), so I can arrange the trip as you mention.

By the way, for domestic airfare, should I wait for a sale, book early, or what, for the best price? I'm not familiar with best airfare purchasing strategies for the various airlines in Australia (Virgin Blue, Jet Star, Qantas).

Also, I've booked the Spirit of Freedom so that is set!

Carole

There are regular sales or lets say have been and just how much they continue with the new world order of economics we will just have to wait and see.

But if you have a look at www.webjet.com.au you can get an idea of flight options and standard prices span for any particular flights - the cheaper ones as is probably anywhere usually go first but I've found that you can still get them on most flights a month or two out of from flying date, and any sales would have usually been announced before then.

I find www.bestflights.com.au to be a good site to be registered with for getting notification on sales (though they have slipped up for last couple - maybe economics already) but the saviour is I've noticed that webjet have been carrying sales notifications of late.

On Sydney, even two three days at end will give you a good look about, do a couple of harbour ferry trips, Circular Quay to Manly and to Watsons Bay will allow you to walk to headlands, staying near the Rocks - http://www.therocks.com/sydney-Educa...s_Pub_Tour.htm will have you "right there" and able to walk to all city CBD highlights of any value, climb a pillar of the bridge as against the bridge climb itself as an option and if you would like somewhere different to stay, check out The Australian in that Rocks tour[Oops, it's off their accomodation list for some reason] -http://www.australianheritagehotel.com/ , no ensuite there but terric feel - and ask for a room away from the Harbour Bridge side (there's a traffic counter clunking)or for something of similar style but more up market and about three times the price - The Russel.

Bonus of The Aussie is the loo view!, well view from one at end of corridor on Harbour side.

And whilst webjet is a good site, once having located best flight, best to book direct with airlines.

For your first trip? Sydney is wonderful and should not be missed. In my opinion, the harbor is the most beautiful I've seen, and I've been to many. It's much nicer and more interesting than San Diego's harbor, which of course is beautiful in its own right. When I visited Sydney in May and June, I had just spent several days in San Francisco, where I left my heart (I grew up in the Bay Area), but when I got to Sydney I had to say "Wow, this is the best." Plenty to do there, too. Temperatures in June were cool (60s-70s) but perfect for outdoor activities. We stayed at Sydney Harbour B&B, a very pleasant spot with friendly hosts, and well-located in the Rocks area.

Getting back to the Queensland portion of your trip, if you are going to Atherton Tablelands I'd suggest spending 2 nights there--1 wouldn't be enough, in my opinion.

As mentioned by another poster, the drive to Cape Tribulation is beautiful, if slow. Have you ever been to the north shore of Kauai? The road north of Hanalei to Haena and Kee Beach is kind of similar. I am addicted to the tropics, so if I had to make a choice, I would spend as much time as possible in the Cape Trib area. We did a very fun half-day trip with Ocean Safari (a pontoon boat) out of Cape Trib to a gorgeous reef, with the best snorkeling I've ever done. Cheap, too, comparatively. Remember that the wind might very well be a factor that affects your snorkeling/diving options at that time of the year.

But I'm no expert -- these are just my comments based on a single 5-week trip to Australia. Take them for what they're worth!

Hi Bushranger - Thanks for all the new info. I will definitely register with bestflights so I can be on the watch for airfare sales.

Aprilliliacs - This is our first trip to Australia. I agree that San Diego is no comparison to Sydney... just trying to say that we see a lot of ships / harbors up and down the California coast, but we don't see rainforests like in Australia very often! (FYI, we lived in the Bay area in the 1990's so, yes, we enjoyed the SF pier area up there too.)

As to your other question... yes, we've been to Kauai's north shore several times. It's our favorite Hawaiian island. That's why we decided to stay on Taveuni Island in Fiji... it's the "garden isle" of Fiji, just as Kauai is the garden isle of Hawaii. If Cape Tribulation is similar to Kauai, we should plan to spend time there for sure!

Interesting that you mention the B&B Sydney Harbour... I've been in contact with them as a potential place to stay either when we first arrive, or before we leave (due to our late flight from Fiji on the inbound, and the day of the week our Spirit of Freedom trip returns, we will end up staying in Sydney at the beginning and end of our stay, which is not ideal). But now I need to compare that B&B to the Aussie Hotel Bushranger pointed me to. That place looks interesting too, although I don't know how I'd do with no ensuite. I'll have to think about that one!

Carole

Carole,
You've received a lot of good advice here. Saltuarias has made me jealous by mentioning Red Mill House and going out on the river with "Sauce." I've stayed at RMH in two visits to Australia now, and it's definitely a place I would repeat. Ian (sauce) is fantastic, we went out with him three mornings in a row.

I would take the advice of staying up in Yungaburra or nearby when visiting the Atherton Tablelands. The Gillies HWY is quite winding and would add a lot of time to a day trip. Personally I wouldn't miss the tablelands, and agree that 2 days would be min. We toured with AG and also stayed at Chambers. I do recommend lunch at the teahouse at Lake Barrine(:

So as not to repeat everything, if you want to read details on my impressions of the places above, if you search on the Australian forum under Nabiac you will find my trip report. It's quite lengthy, so you'll want to skip ahead to the pertinent parts!

There are also some pictures from the Tablelands etc. Sally's trip report is great for information, and there is also a really good couple of trip reports on going up to Cape Trib. I believe one is by RalphT? I want to say he did the Cooper Creek tour, or maybe that was Mrs. Go. I'll see if I can find those TRs, they have really good info on driving north.

Planning's half the fun, isn't it? Have a wonderful time.

Maybe you have already read it, so I apologize if I'm repeating something. But, here is RalphR's trip report. You may find it helpful.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35147730

Hi Toucan2 - Thanks... I appreciate the info. I did read a trip report of yours and I read Ralph R's too, but was glad to have it at my fingertips again.

For the Atherton Tablelands, the website of the Chambers Rainforest Lodge seems to indicate a 3-night minimum? I do like the looks of their “evening wildlife commentary”, although it sounds like you didn’t get to do that Toucan2? Eden House and Allumbah Pocket Cottages also look nice. And it sounds like my plan to visit 1-1/2 days (arrive from CNS mid-day, drive to Yungaburra, do an evening tour, then tour the AT the following day prior to heading north) is not enough time… that we’ll need a 2nd night. I guess we would for sure need 2 nights, if we add in the Kuranda Railway / Skyrail trip.

For the Rainforest / Cape Trib. area I’ve already booked Pete Baxendell. I did that before I knew about "Sauce". Right now we’re set to have Pete pick us up in Port Douglas (Sheraton), but I’m still considering places further North. Pete recommended the Daintree Wilderness Lodge, and that looks nice. We’re also looking at the Exotic Fruit Farm and still considering the Red Mill House. These last two are less expensive than the Wilderness Lodge.

Here’s a question… is air conditioning something we should look for at either the Atherton Tablelands or in the Daintree Rainforest? I’m not sure how humid it will be in June, even though it is winter. I will assume we don’t need it, unless I hear otherwise from someone.

OK… thanks everyone. I appreciate all the great info. I’ve received!!

Carole

Hi cawhite,

The people at Chambers were the nicest people. I actually called and talked to them about the 3 night minimum because with the other nights we already had booked we couldn't stay 3 nights, and John let me book 2 nights instead. It was very kind of him

If you are calling from the states, I really found it easy to sometimes just call and chat. Afterall it was evening for me and their morning so it was easy to connect, and by dialing 10 10 987 first, it was really really cheap. For you calling from SD you might have even better luck connecting. But, I don't know if June is considered a more holiday season up there or not where fewer days might be an issue. It never hurts to ask.

We really really liked being able to walk out the door and bird/wildlife watch. Oh, I think there are cottages/rooms at Lake Barrine as well, and that would be a nice environment. I don't know what they are called.

I think we just had bad luck and timing for the evening talks and sugar gliders. We would definitely return to Chambers another time, it didn't put us off going. I think it was unusual that the talk didn't occur.

You also have some other good suggestions of course.

Regarding AC, Steve and I never felt the need for it on either trip that we took to Australia. We actually had a few chilly (to us) days. We are used to a very hot and humid environment in the summer (Kansas City, MO) and so the November/December trips we took, (their first parts of the summer)really just felt nice and warm to us. Open windows and celing fans were fine. But I know Sally felt very hot when she visited. I'm trying to think of SD, and I think you are less humid than us in the summer, but I don't really know how hot you get. Gosh, how is this for a non-answer, eh? I'm just trying to think what it might feel like to you relative to your experience(:

Hello cawhite,
If you are booking a tour on the Tablelands your operater may be able to get you into Chambers for a shorter time. The accommodation there is not as fresh as some of the ones you mention but the wildlife advantage is why people keep going back. Yes it is unusual to miss out on the wildlife talk. Must have been a family emergency. At that time of year the sugar gliders are most reliable. You will need two nights if doing this and a nocturnal.

Aitconditioning is not needed on the Tablelands and at that time of year make sure you have a jacket. Ground frosts do occur in the winter but if they do the days are magnificent! Red Mill has airconditioning but you'll not need it because of the location. In some spots it may be an advantage but not one I would base my decision on at that time of year.

Thanks Toucan2 and Saltuarius.

We just made a reservation with Alan Gillanders. I will ask him about the Chambers. If not, I saw a good price for the Eden House on wotif.com. Can you book in advance on wotif, or is that generally a last minute reservation site?

I think we have decided to stay at the Sheraton in Port Douglas after our 2 night stay in the Tablelands in order to save some $$ (we will use hotel points).

Carole

You can book up to 28 days ahead on the Wotif site.

Carole,
June is their peak time. As you have a set schedule I would be inclined to book ahead. 28 days though does give you some time to chase around other listings if yours is not available.

Oh, OK... Thanks for the wotif info. That's what I thought.

Prue - I just looked up the winter holiday dates for Queensland and on this website http://education.qld.gov.au/public_m.../holidays.html it says they are 27 June - 12 July. We'll be in the Tablelands just before these dates, in Port Douglas the first weekend of the holiday, then on the Spirit of Freedom, then back to Sydney July 2nd - 4th. So I guess we will be impacted to some degree.

We originally also considered doing this trip in August... looks like kids are in school at that time! Oh, well.

Hey, another question please. Has anyone stayed at Gumtree on Gilles in Yungaburra? I see it's a bit further out. Is it still walking distance to the center of town (restaurants, cafes, etc.?). That's another place we are now considering.

Thanks.

Carole

oops... Sorry, Saltuarius - you were the one who mentioned that June is peak time. That's what prompted me to check the actual school schedule... thanks.

Carole

Carole,
There is a bit of variance state by state as to when the hols are - http://www.australiatravelsearch.com.au/trc/hols.html

But it's nothing to worry about for most people trekking/flying north from the more populous southern states of NSW and Vic head about as far as Brisbane and Gold Coast for theme parks that kids are interested in.

You get southern Queenslanders who don't like putting cardigans on heading that way and of course the grey nomads, but they are usually filling up caravan parks and the cheaper end accomodation, and if you've got bookings you'll be more than fine.

June is much better a month to go in than August as you'll find that the countryside will have more of a fresher green lushness to it, far greater chance for waterfalls to be flowing etc., if there has been a good wet season and on that note, it is a highlight of the region to do the train trip up to Kuranda for you get to see the falls(if they're flowing1 - I was there one year in May after a dry wet and virtually nothing flowing over main falls), but hopefully nxt year will be better.

Thanks Bushranger. That's great news... now I'm really glad we're going in June instead of August.

Carole